Cotswolds Private Tour: Hidden Villages & Broadway Tower

Broadway Tower sits 800 feet above the Cotswolds escarpment, built by Capability Brown's vision in 1798.

A private Cotswolds tour departing from Moreton-in-Marsh that visits eight villages and landmarks across the honey-stone countryside, including Broadway Tower, Bibury, Stow-on-the-Wold and Bourton-on-the-Water, with a local guide driving a luxury car. The tour runs 5 to 7 hours with free time at each stop to explore on your own. A maximum of four people travel per booking, and the guide shares local history and photography knowledge along the country lanes. Bottled water, fuel and parking are included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Broadway Tower40m
2. Bibury45m

Explore Cotswolds villages and landmarks

• Meet at Moreton-in-Marsh
• Visit ancient town and St James Church
• See Broadway Tower landmark
• Explore charming village with English cottages
• Visit Bourton-on-the-Water and local attractions
• Optional visit to Bibury village and Arlington Row
• Visit Lower Slaughter village
• Explore Stow town and historical sites
• Return to Moreton-in-Marsh drop-off

The experience

The tour starts at Moreton-in-Marsh, an ancient town where St James Church and Dover's Hill sit among tranquil countryside. From there, the route climbs to Broadway Tower, the 18th-century landmark designed by landscape architect Capability Brown and completed in 1798 for the 6th Earl of Coventry. The tower crowns the Cotswolds escarpment and anchors the day's exploration of the region's most photographed villages.

You'll spend free time in each village: Bourton-on-the-Water, where the River Windrush flows through the centre crossed by small bridges, holds the Cotswold Motoring Museum and Birdland Park if you want to linger. Bibury, a 20-minute drive from Bourton, is where William Morris saw "the most beautiful village in England". Arlington Row, a row of 17th-century weavers' cottages built on a 14th-century wool store, appears on UK passports and draws photographers daily. Stow-on-the-Wold sits at nearly 800 feet on the Roman Fosse Way, a historic trading centre with roots in the English Civil War. Lower Slaughter, whose name comes from Old English for "muddy place," connects to the tiny River Eye. The guide drives a luxury car with working air-conditioning and heating along the country lanes, and the return to Moreton-in-Marsh takes 20 to 40 minutes depending on road conditions.

A live English-speaking guide leads the tour and handles all driving, so you focus on the villages themselves rather than navigation. The group stays under four people per booking, which means quieter stops and easier access to narrow village streets and stone cottages. Confirmation arrives within 24 hours of booking.

What’s included

• Transport in a luxury private car with air-conditioning and heating.
• bottled water.
• fuel and parking fees.
• a professional local guide who shares history and photography knowledge.
• free time to explore each village at your own pace.

Before you book

Days and timesNext departure: 17 Mar 2027

Book up to4h before

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 6 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyNot for heart conditions

Operated by Black Sheep Travel

Is this one for you?This is a private tour for up to four people, so you travel only with your own group and move at your own pace within each village: ideal if you want to avoid the crowds and large-group schedules that fill the Cotswolds in peak season. The guide handles all driving and route planning, which means you can focus on the villages and countryside rather than navigation.

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Top questions

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What is Broadway Tower and why does it matter on this tour?

Broadway Tower is an 18th-century landmark perched 800 feet above the Cotswolds escarpment, designed by landscape architect Capability Brown and completed in 1798. It anchors the tour as an iconic viewpoint over the countryside and the villages below.

Can I spend as much time as I want in each village, or is the schedule fixed?

Each village includes free time to explore on your own, so you set the pace at stops like Bibury, Bourton-on-the-Water and Stow-on-the-Wold. The guide manages the overall route and timing to fit the 5 to 7 hour tour window.

What makes Bibury worth visiting on this tour?

Bibury is known for Arlington Row, a row of 17th-century weavers' cottages built on a 14th-century wool store that appears on the inside cover of UK passports. William Morris called it "the most beautiful village in England," and it sits along the River Coln with stone buildings that draw photographers daily.

How many people travel on this tour, and who else will be in the group?

A maximum of four people travel per booking, and only your group participates: no other travelers join. This keeps the experience private and makes it easier to move through village streets and stop at smaller sites.

Does the tour include lunch or meals?

Lunch is not included, but the tour visits villages like Bourton-on-the-Water and Bibury where cafes and pubs are available if you want to eat during free time at a stop.

What's included in the price, and what do I need to bring?

The tour includes transport in a luxury car with air-conditioning and heating, bottled water, fuel, parking fees and a professional guide who speaks English. Bring comfortable walking shoes for exploring villages on foot during free time.